Abstract
Extended voxel finite element method (X-VFEM) for the analysis of heterogeneous solids using voxel mesh is developed in this paper. The method is based on the enrichments with the level set function for material interfaces employed in the extended finite element method. To model and simulate very complex heterogeneous materials, we formulate the multiple enrichment for elements including number of material interfaces. We first formulate the X-VFEM and explain the procedure of multiple enrichment by means of level set functions and voxel data for representing complex material interfaces. In section 3, several verification examples are presented. The validity of multiple enrichment is demonstrated in 1-D tensile problem of a bar. The accuracy of stress along material interface is assessed with reference to the solutions by the standard FEM and the voxel FEM in 3-D tensile problem of a 2-phase material. In section 4, a numerical example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the X-VFEM for extremely complex heterogeneous materials.
